Page 32 of Last Ride of the Umbra Fae

“Wait!”

I paused near the doorway.

Shaken, her eyes darted to the sliver of hair that exposed the tip of my ear, seeing me for who I really was. For a second, I thought she would scream again, having witnessed her husband killed by a fae. People began to gather behind us. Oddly, her eyes softened, and she motioned to her ear as if to tell me to quickly cover mine.

“Thank you…Thank you for saving me.”

The kindness in her words was an echo, enough to make the back of my throat burn and pain tinge my nose.

“Thank you…”

A human not only thanking me but being kind enough to tell me to hide my ear.

“Thank you.”

I simply nodded, a tilt of my hat before I turned and disappeared into the crowd.

I quickly pushed past them, catching the eyes of a few women, shock rolling down their faces as if astonished that a woman could have made such a mess. I kept my head down.

Just when I was about to move the curtain and exit the hall into the tavern, I was pulled into a room.

The boy from last night was strong enough to yank me into a pantry that led to the kitchen, his curls swaying back and forth as he made sure no one else was around.

“You don’t want to go out that way,” he warned in a hushed tone, cheeks tinged with red as if he’d been running.

“Why not,” I asked, as my eyes quickly surveyed the room.

“There’s a sheriff from Grand Dusk looking for you.”

“Fuck…”

“Fuck indeed,” he said.

I snorted. Such a cute kid.

“Well, what do you suggest we do then?” I smiled as sweat beaded above my brow.

He grabbed my hand again. “Boss ain’t here yet. I’ll lead you out the back. Your family is already out there waiting for you.”

I blinked back the confusion as he led me through the kitchen.

“Thank you for killing him. They were arguing for as long as they were here. And also, that was pretty badass.” The excitement hummed in his chest. I could only imagine what that boy had heard out of that room all this time.

A smile quirked my mouth. “You’re welcome. You got any idea what this sheriff’s name is?”

“Sheriff Dawson. He looks as grumpy as your old Pa.”

I snorted again, this time too loud because he turned around to shush me.

“Duly noted.”

We stepped outside to bright azure skies as two yellow butterflies fluttered in my path. Oddly, it felt too sunny for a town like Ash Dunes, as if Mother Nature had cleared the way for our escape.

Ryder and Pa were already astride their stallions. As I mounted my mare, the boy ran up to give us a sack.

“Food for the road,” he said, tossing the bag to Pa while stroking the neck of Ryder’s stallion.

“What’s your name, partner?” Pa asked.

---